Cleaning Beneath Aquascape

cvsailer · 05/25/2013, 08:51 PM

I have a 92 gallon corner FOWLR. My aquascape consist of two islands of 100lbs of live rock. Should I be completely removing the rocks from time to time to vacuum the area beneath the rocks?

mclevenger10 · 05/25/2013, 08:54 PM

No you should be fine if you have a CUC. I have never cleaned under my rock!

tanked37 · 05/25/2013, 09:11 PM

No! Don't do that to yourself or your system.

cvsailer · 05/25/2013, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanked37

No! Don't do that to yourself or your system.

What do you mean? What is the harm of removing the rock to clean the areas the rock covers? I'm not challenging you, I'm new to this and I would like to understand the rationale. Thx.

hollister · 05/25/2013, 09:32 PM

Its about collecting this stuff before it settles. By feeding habits and good flow all around so food and fish waste get collected and any bits left will be consumed by the CUC and other critters.

xxvietxjustinxx · 05/25/2013, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvsailer

What do you mean? What is the harm of removing the rock to clean the areas the rock covers? I'm not challenging you, I'm new to this and I would like to understand the rationale. Thx.

It really depends on how established your tank is. If your sandbed has been untouched for a while, I wouldn't disturb it as you might cause a lot of trapped nutrients in the sandbed to go into your tank.

If you're like me and you made it a habit of vacuuming the sandbed constantly, I think it's fine.

jamesbaur13 · 05/25/2013, 09:44 PM

It's best you don't remove the rocks to clean underneath them. You'll likely release hydrogen sulfide into the water, this can nuke your tank in large enough quantities.

05/25/2013, 08:51 PM	#1
cvsailer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 216	Cleaning Beneath Aquascape I have a 92 gallon corner FOWLR. My aquascape consist of two islands of 100lbs of live rock. Should I be completely removing the rocks from time to time to vacuum the area beneath the rocks?

05/25/2013, 08:54 PM	#2
mclevenger10 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 165	No you should be fine if you have a CUC. I have never cleaned under my rock! __________________ 1=.999999 think about it! 55 gallon reef tank, 25 gallon sump, Blue Tang, Clarki Clown, Six line wrasse, brittle star, GSP, trumpet coral, Purple Sea whip, many zoas! Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef tank, I have 1 clarki clownfish, 1 Purple/Hippo Tank, 1 six line wrasse, 1 Sally Lightfooted crab, 1 yellow watchman gobie and a brittle star...more coming soon!

05/25/2013, 09:44 PM	#7
jamesbaur13 Apsiring Alhcohlolic Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 772	It's best you don't remove the rocks to clean underneath them. You'll likely release hydrogen sulfide into the water, this can nuke your tank in large enough quantities. __________________ 120G AGA Dual Overflow, 40G B Sump, SRO-2000int, 2 Eheim 200w Heater, Eheim 1262 Return, BRS C & GFO React., BR-1000ss Biopellet React., Tunze 5017 ATO, 2 MP-40wes, DIY 76LED (36RB,24NW,6B,6CW,4Moon)

05/25/2013, 09:11 PM	#3
tanked37 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 262	No! Don't do that to yourself or your system.

05/25/2013, 09:32 PM	#5
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Its about collecting this stuff before it settles. By feeding habits and good flow all around so food and fish waste get collected and any bits left will be consumed by the CUC and other critters.